Primary Functions
- Understand the value of a wide variety of water management options as well as the merits of integrated water resources management.
Detailed Description
Complex interactions among components of a watershed system necessitate the evaluation of management options within a watershed framework in order to realize the full impact of management decisions. A generic optimization model was developed to evaluate a broad range of technical, economic and policy management options within a watershed context. The model integrates natural and human elements of a watershed system. Since there are concurrent requirements for both water quantity and quality, both flow and concentrations are modeled. We expect that the model will suggest a different management strategy than the evaluation of simple cost-benefit analyses for each management option. This will not only demonstrate the relative efficacy of undervalued management options, but also document the merits of integrated water resources management.
